A forest of ancient eucalypts and majestic tree ferns nestles in a sheltered gully. After several days of bad weather, the wind has abated, and the birds are active.

Birdsong fills the clear morning air, including the voices of Whipbirds, Lyrebirds, Robins, Currawongs, Kookaburras, Silvereyes and Golden Whistlers. A gentle breeze can occasionally be heard on the ridge above and in the crowns of the tallest trees.

This is a lovely album of typical Australian bush birdsong.

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This recording was made in a saddle of a high plateau in the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are described as an incised sandstone plateau, where magestic sandstone cliffs drop away from uniform highlands into broad open valleys. At this location however, more modest cliffs protected a small defile from the winds and exposure of the ridgetop. This allowed a lush microclimate, with tree ferns, taller eucalypts and a moist forest floor. Many of the birds you can hear on this recording prefer this slightly moister habitat.

The topography of the location was also unusual in that the defile acted as a short cut for birds flying between one valley and the next. You can hear this as wave after wave of small birds pass through, accompanied by some larger species such as currawongs and black cockatoos.

I came across this location during blustery and rainy conditions, and whilst it did provide some shelter, it was only once the wind had a abated somewhat that I could get this recording. For me it captures some distinctive Australian birdsong, and the balance of species and acoustic is particularly enjoyable.